AARP Working with Lawmakers on Donut Hole

Anyone who has Medicare and has Medicare Part D which helps cover prescription costs is aware of the infamous a “donut hole.” That is the part of the coverage where the plan stops paying and the individual starts to pay out of their pocket.

The problem with this is that once a person can get stuck in the donut hole, there is often no way to get back out. In fact, many seniors and others who have ended up stuck in the donut hole have had to spend so much money that they were left with nothing.

When the Medicare Advantage programs were started, especially since they were and still are offered by private insurance companies, individuals – and lawmakers, who are the overseeers and guardians of the Medicare system and coverage – did not forsee the amount of problems that the donut hole has caused. If they did see the possible future problems, they certainly were quiet ablut it.

It is no longer time to be quiet about the problems that the donut hole is causing. AARP – one of the most outspoken organizations for seniors, especially those on Medicare – is now working with Congress to look at that trap for seniors on Medicare Advantage/Part D – the donut hole – and see what can be done to make the hole much smaller or close it altogether.

Of course, this is part of the bigger Heathcare Reform package and Medicare Reform, which is included in the full package. Since AARP works with and for older Americans and older Americans use more prescriptions than any other part of the population, it is essential that they get help being able to afford their prescription medications. It is not O.K. for seniors – most of whom are on fixed incomes – to choose between food and medicine or take smaller doses of medicine (or medicine every other day instead of every day) because they can’t afford to pay for their medication.

AARP plans to continue working hard to help seniors get access to their prescription medication and be able to afford it without being swallowed up by the infamous donut hole.